Pneumatic control device



March 15, 1932. WES 1,849,930

PNEUMATI C CONTROL DEVI CE Filed Aug. 14, 1930 ,mmm

Inventor:

Charles Alves,

I I Hi Atco'r'neg.

Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFEQE CHARLES A. IVES, OFERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COM- PANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK PNEUIv'IATIC CONTROL DEVICE Application filedAugust 14, 1930. Serial No. 475,327,

a My invention relates to control apparatus, more particularly topneumatic control appa- .ratus.

In some forms of contactor mechanism for controlling electric circuits,pneumatic means are used to operate the contactor mechanism. In thistype of control mechanism, fluid under pressure is admitted against oneside of a diaphragm which actuates a moving contact-carrying element ofthe contactor. Due to slow or partial opening of the valves forcontrolling the fluid under pressure a slow making and breaking of thecontacts of the contactor may result thereby causing arcing at thecontacts, particularly in interrupting the circuit. This. of course,results in a rapid deterioration of the contacts which requires frequentreplacements and may also produce improper operation of the apparatuscontrolled by the contactor. Further, it is diflicult to design acontactor of the above type which can be readily placed at the point ofcontrol and which is inexpensive and simple and which can handle highvoltages.

Hence it is the principal object of my invention to provide aquick-acting pneumatic- "operating device for a contactor therebypreventing arcing and insuring longer life of the cont-actor as well asbetter operation of the apparatus controlled thereby.

It is a further object of my invention to simplify the pneumatic-controlapparatus and to provide an inexpensive contactor which can easily beattached where desired.

These and other objects will appear hereinafter.

Briefly, the preferred embodiment of my invention consists of a casingin which is mounted a pair of contacts between which a movable elementcarrying a contact is actuated. Oppositely disposed and connected tothis movable contact-carrying element by means of pins are a pair ofresilient rubber diaphragms, each bonded to a portion of the casingunder tension. The pins connecting the movable element to the diaphragmsare mounted centrally of the diaphra-gms and when the diaphragrns becomeflexed by the application of a fluid under pressure to one side thereof,this flexing movement causes a movement of the movable contact-carryingmember so that the contact mounted thereon will come into engagementwith one or the other of the two stationary contacts mounted within thecasing. The other side of the diaphragms are open to the atmosphere. Aport in said diaphragm cooperating with a retaining plate permits aquick return of the diaphragm to an unflexed position when the fluidunder pressure is no longer furnished to flex the same by permitting arapid equalization of the pressures on the two sides of the diaphragm.This construction produces a quick break contactor which is highlydesirable in for example a magnetic valve control for a pneumatic brake.Further it can be readily attached to the brake valve.

A better understanding of my invention will be had by referring to thefollowing description and the accompanying drawing.

The single figure in the drawing represents a cross section of myinvention.

A casing comprising four parts 9, 10, 11 and 11 houses the contactormechanism. In the upper portion 10 of the casing, which is maintained inengagement with the lower portions 911 and 11 by means of the snapspring members 10', are mounted the stationary contact elements 12 and13 and cooperating therewith are the contacts 14 and 15 carried by thepivoted contactor-carrying elment 16 which is pivoted at 17. Mounted onopposite sides of the pivoted member 16 and in the lower part 9 of thecasing are the rubber diaphragms 18 and 19 w iich are bonded to metalrims 7 and 8 in a manner such that these diaphragms are under tension.

Centrally mounted in these diaphragms are the pins or connecting members20 and 21 which operatively connect the movable member 16 with thediaphragms to cause movement of the movable member when the diaphragmsare flexed due to the application of fluid pressure on one side thereof.A port such as 22 is provided in the diaphragms which cooperate with theretaining plates 23 and 2 1 during operation as will be describec below.

On one side of the diaphragms are provided the chambers and 26 intowhich a fluid under pressure is furnished through the conduits 27 and28. it will be noted that the other sides of the diaphragms open intothe atmosphere through the openings 29 and 30 in the retaining platesand the opening 31 in the lower part of the casing 9.

A valve 32 for COIltl'Ollilig the fluid under pressure is provided withan operating handle 33 which operates the portion of the valve 33provided with the passageways and 36. A conduit 3% is provided forleading fluid under pressure to the valve and a conduit 37 provides apassage to the atmosphere; r When the handle is posltloned to admi fluidunder pressure to chamber 25 from conduit 34 through passageway 35 andconduit 27, chamber'26 is opened to atmosphere through conduit 28,passageway 36 and conduit 37. Likewise, when the handle is positioned toadmit fluid under pressure to chamber 26 through conduit 34, passageway36 and conduit 28, chamber 25 is opened to atmos here throu h conduit 27assa 'ewa' 35and conduit 37.

contact with either of the contacts 12 or 13.

When the valve 32 is operated to admit fluid under pressure to one sideor the other, for

- example, through the conduit 28 to the Clllllh her 26, although therewill be a slight leakage oi the fluid under pressure through the port22, suficient. pressure will be exerted upon the diaphragm to cause aflexing outwardly so that the rubber diaphragm 19 contacts with theretaining plate 24 and thereby closes the port22preventing any furtherescape of This flexing movement, causes a movement-of the pin 2] to theleft moving the contact-carrying element 16 to: cause the contacts 14and 12 to en 'age each other thus forming the electrical connection.desired.

WVlien the valve 32 is operated to open the conduit 28, to atmospherethrough conduit 37, the pressure on the diaphragm begins to fallpermitting the diaphragm, due to its elasticity and stressed condition,to begin to return to its unflexed position. As soon as the port'22 isuncovered the fluid under pressure is given an auxiliary passage to theatmos phere and the pressures on the two sides of the diaphragm rapidlyequalize permitting the diaphragm to return with a quick snap action toits unflexedposition with theresult that the contacts 12 and 14 havetheir engagement quickly broken. This of course reduces the arcing whichwould result from a. slow opening movement.

The contactor here described is small and simple in construct-ion, islight in weight and can be readily connected to the control valve withlittle dificulty. Its small size, simple structure and ease ofapplication to a brake valve permit it to be readily replaced in case oftrouble which couldnot be done with the old type of contactor. Arcing isreduced to a minimum, increasing the life of the contactor mechanism andinsuring proper operation of the valves controlling the pneumatic brakeapparatus.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein hasbeen selected for the purpose of clearly setting forth the principlesinvolved. It will be apparent, however, that the invention issusceptible of beingv modified to meet the diflerent conditionsencountered in its use and I, therefore, aim to cover by the appendedclaims all modi'flcations within the true spirit and scope of myinvention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 01": theUnited States, is,

1. A control device including a resilient diaphragm, a retaining plateadjacent to one side of said diaphragm, said diaphragm being proddedwith a port for quickly equalizing pressures on both sides thereof andwhich is closed by said retaining plate when fluid under pressure isadmitted to the opposite side phragm to move against said retainingplate.

In a pneumatic conta'etor, a resilient diaphragm, a: conduit fordirecting fluid under pressure against one side of said diaphragm toflex the same, the other side of said diaphragm being open: to theatmosphere, a port extending. through said diaphragm, means for closingsaid port when said diaphragm is flexedunder pressure, said portpermitting said diaphragmto returnqui'ckly to unflexed position whensaid: pressure is released.

apliragm fixed at its periphery and having a port formed inanintermediate flexible portion thereof, afixed member for controllingsaidportdisposedadjacent said flexible portion of the diaphragm, andfluid pressure means for flexing the diaphragm to close and open theport therein. I

i. A pneumatic contactor comprising a H movable contact-carrying member,a pairof resilientd-i aphragms operativelyconnected to said member tocause movement thereof inopposite directions, means for directing fluidunder. pressure against one side of said diaphragmstocauseflexing'thereofto move said member, said diaphragms having. meansfor permittingfsaid diaphragms to quickly return to unflex'ed positionvwhen said fluid pressure is released. v

5. A pneumatic contactor comprising 2. casing, a-mova'ble? contactorelement oppositelydisposed resilient-rubber diaphragms, said diaphragmsbeing mounted in said casing and being: provided on one side with meansfor of said diaphragm to cause said dia-;

o. A-control device including a resilient didirecting fluid underpressure against said diaphragms to flex the same, and connecting pinsmounted at the center of said diaphragms and operatively engaging saidmovable element to move the same when said diaphragms are flexed, saiddiaphragm having means to quickly break said contact and return tounflexed position when said pressure is released.

6. A pneumatic contactor comprising a plurality of stationary contacts,a member carrying a cooperating contact and movable between saidcontacts, oppositely-disposed resilient diaphragms operatively connectedto said member to move it into contact with one or another of saidstationary contacts, means for directing fluid under pressure againstsaid diaphragms to cause flexing thereof to move said contact-carryingmember to a contacting position, said diaphragm being provided withmeans to quickly break said contact and return to unflexed position whensaid fluid pressure is released.

7. A pneumatic contactor comprising a plurality of rubber diaphragms, aretaining plate adjacent each of said diaphragms, said diaphragms beingprovided with a port for quickly equalizing pressures on opposite sidesthereof and which is closed by said retaining plate when fluid underpressure is admitted to said diaphragm to cause said diaphragm to moveagainst said retaining plate, and fluid conduits for directing fluidunder pressure against one side of said diaphragms to cause flexingthereof to operate said contactor.

8. A contactor comprising a movable contact carrying member, a pair ofoppositelydisposed resilient-rubber diaphragms operatively connected tosaid member to cause movement of the same, a conduit for directing fluidunder pressure against one side of each diaphragm for flexing the sameto move said contact-carrying member, the other side of said diaphragmsbeing under atmospheric pressure, and said diaphragm being provided withmeans for permitting the same to quickly return to unflexed positionwhen said fluid pressure is released.

9. A contactor comprising a movable contact carrying member,oppositely-disposed resilient, rubber diaphragms operatively connectedto said member to cause movement of the same, conduits for directingfluid under pressure against one side of said diaphragms to flex thesame to move said member, the other side of said diaphragm being open tothe atmosphere, a port extending through said diaphragm, means forclosing said port when said diaphragm is under pressure, said portpermitting said diaphragm to return quickly to unfleXed position whensaid pressure is released.

10. A contactor provided with oppositelydisposed resilient-rubberdiaphragms having one side open to the atmosphere and the other sideadapted to be exposed to fluid under pressure to flex said diaphragms, aport extending through each of said diaphragms, a retaining plateadjacent the atmospheric side of each of said diaphragms, said plateclosing the port when a diaphragm is subjected to fluid under pressure,said port upon release of pressure permitting rapid equalization of thpressure on opposite sides of the diaphragms to cause said diaphragms toquickly resume an unflexed position.

11. A pneumatic contactor comprising a casing, a plurality of stationarycontacts mounted within said casing, a member carrying a cooperatingcontact movable between said stationary contacts, a plurality ofresilient diaphragms within said casing, each bonded to a metal rimunder tension, said diaphragms being open on one side to the atmosphereand provided on the other with a chamber into which fluid under pressureis admitted to flex said diaphragms, operative connections between saidcontact-carrying member and said diaphragms whereby flexing of the samewill cause movement of said contact-carrying member to contact with oneor another of said stationary contacts, and said diaphragms beingprovided with means for permitting quick return to unflexed positionwhen pressure is released therefrom.

12. A pneumatic contactor comprising a casing, a movable contactorelement therein, a pair of oppositelv-disposed resilient-rubberdiaphragms mounted in said casing, said casing being provided withchambers for directing fluid under pressure against one side of saiddiaphragms to flex the same, connecting pins mounted centrally of saiddiaphragms for operatively connecting said diaphragms and said movableelement to cause movement of the same when either of said diaphragms isplaced under pressure, and a port extending through said diaphragms,said port on release of pressure permitting quick return of saiddiaphragms to unflexed position.

18. A pneumatic contactor comprising a casing, a movable contactorelement therein, a pair of oppositely-disposed resilient-rubberdiaphragms in said casing, each bonded to a metal rim under tension,said casing provided with means for directing fluid under pressureagainst one side only of said diaphragms to flex the same, connectingpins mounted centrally of said diaphragms for operatively connectingsaid diaphragn'is and said mov able element to cause movement of saidmovable element when either of said diaphragms is subjected to fluidpressure, and a port ex tending through said diaphragms to permit aquick return or the same to unflexed position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12 day of August,1930.

CHARLES A. IVES.

